Blinken defends Crimea response

3/23/14 9:55 AM EDT

White House Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken defended the administration’s response to Russia’s takeover of Crimea on Sunday, saying new sanctions have “had a real hit” on the Russian economy.

“What we’re seeing every day is Russia getting more and more isolated and its economy taking a bigger hit,” Blinken said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Blinken declined to say whether the U.S. would provide military aid to Ukraine, explaining that the administration was “looking at every request that we’re getting from the Ukrainians.”

“It’s deeply concerning to see the Russian troop buildup along the border,” he said. “It’s likely what they’re trying to do is intimidate the Ukrainians. It’s possible that they’re preparing to move in.”